Boat-hull construction



G. M. [FRENCH BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 2'7, 1922 2 Sheets-5heet 1 WI", If? E' G. M. FWIENCIP'W BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 27 1922 2 Sheets-$heet 2 W MM.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, Gnonen M. Fnnrrcrr, a

I citizen ofthe Tlnited States, residing at lit till

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bill

Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented a new and useful Boat-T'Tull Construction, of which the following is a specification.

The invention pertains in its broadest aspects to an improved construction for the hull of a boat or vessel irrespective of size and use, but has particular reference to vessels of the smaller class such, for example, as pleasure boats.

The general aim of the invention is to produce a boat hull construction which is of a highly practical character, because itenables the hull to be made of exceptionally light weight and yet of ample strength and rigidity, and is capable of rapid and relatively easy construction due to its simplicity.

The invention involves, the use of metallic plates to form the shell, and in the case of smallervessels, such as motor beats, a nonferrous metal is employed in order to counteract the injurious effect which such natural elements as the teredo worm, barnacles, corrosion, electrolysis, etc, have upon wood and ferrous metals. Further, my construction embodies a combined reinforcing and shell plate, flanged to impart thereto the desired strengthening quality. -The flanges, howevenare interrupted at regular intervals, preferably corresponding to the spacing of the transverse frame members or ribs so as to receive thelatter. By this construction, the hull is rendered substantitially rigid when completed, but. the plates are made sufliciently flexible to permit them to be bent and flared into the form desired, thus facilitating their application to the frame. Moreover, the interruption in the flanges eliminates the water pockets formed by the continuous flanges of prior constructionu.

Tn the accompanying drawings T have shown -my invention as embodied in a hull constructed partially of metal and also in a hull constructed wholly of metal. Figs.

.l and 2 are fragmentary vertical sectional views throu h a hull talren respectively near the forwardT- portion of the vessel and the rear portion of the vessel, and showing the upper portion of the hull with a wood p anlring. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. it but showing the all metal construction. Fig. t is a fragmentary perspective view of a small section of the hull. Fig. 5 is an inner slde elevation of the same. Fig. ti is a fragmentary plan view of a blank from which the reinforcing shell plate is formed. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view somewhat diagrammatic in character of the hull. Fig. is an edge elevation of a section of the remforeing shell plate showing in brolren lines how the interruption of the flanges facilitatesthe bending at the point adjacent the transverse frame members.

While the invention is set forth hereinafter with considerable particularity, T contemplate that various changes, in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts may be made by those slrilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The hull comprises essentially reinforcing shell plates 10 having inturned reinforcing strips or members in the form of flanges extending longitudinally thereof with inter- .ruptions at frequent intervals to render the plates flexible. Tn combination with the plates l0, T employ plain sheets or strips T1, the opposite edges of which overlap, the flanged edges of the plates l0 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner, as for example, by rivets 12. As shown in Figs. 4: and'5, the plate 10 is provided along both longitudinal edges with flanges 13, interrupted at regularly spaced intervals as at 14:, such intervals being spaced in accordance with the spacing of the transverse frame members T5 of the hull. As shown in Fig. 6, the plates 10 are formed from a blank 10 having its edges notched as at T4? to provide wing portions 13 to be bent at right angles to form the flanges 13 interrupted at 14. These plates may be drilled to provide holes for the rivets l2.

Preferably the reinforcing shell plates 10 are made withstraight edges, in order to facilitate the shaping operation producing the flanges l3, and because of the fact that I the hull is of greater'dimensions in its central and rear portions than in its forwa end, it is necessary forthe plates to increase gradually in width from their front ends rearwardly asshown in Fl .7. Moreover, it is necessary for these p ates 10 to curve from front to rear, as a whole. Tn order, therefore, to obtain the straight flanged edges, these plates are made from a plulity of sections joined together end to end,

as shown in said Fi verse frame members 15, to which .7. The plain overlape other hand may have lmay be made of any ping plates 11 on t curved edges and length practicable.

interrupted character of the flanges, notches are provided therein for receiving the transthe plates are secured directly as by riveting. The

members 15 are also preferably made of sheet curring at the frame members; they enable the sheets to be secured together flat upon the frame members; and they provide passageways upon the inner side of the shell permitting the escape of water from the upper sides of the flanges, it being apparent that .such flanges if continuous would form pockets for collecting water. It will also be apparent that the stiffening members or flanges 13 are I plate entirely free and that their sole function is to reinforce the shell plates longitudinally thereof.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that my invention is capable of use where the shell of the hull is constructed entirely of sheet metal plates. As shown in-this figure, the flanged reinforcing shell plates 10, and the 1, plain sheets or plates 11 alternate from the upper edges of the hull to the keel 16, the plates between the bottom and side walls of the shell being bent or curved transversely. 17 designates the floor of the vessel which may be of any suitable construction.

In Figs-1,. and 2 I have illustrated how my invention may be embodied in a hull constructed of metal in its lower portion with wood planking above the water line.

In this instance I have provided a special connection between the uppermost plate 10 and the wood planking 18. Such connection may consist of a pair of plates 19 and 20 the former overlapping at its lower edge the and having an inturned flange 21 at its upper edge which is secured to a similar flange 22 at the lower edge of the plate 20. The upper edge of the latter is preferably inserted between the wood planking 18 and the frame members 15, and

' is-suitably secured to the latter. Herein I have shown brackets 23 in substantially in- I verted U'-form for this purpose. Preferably the plates 19 and 20 are spaced from the frame members 15 by shims 24 and 25. The lower edges of the wooden planking may be protected by an angular strip 26. The wooden planking as shown is yvhat is known as the double skin construction. A comparis'on of Figs. 2 and 3 will show that I It may be observed that because of the The notches 14 per-,

forward portion of the vessel where the radius of curvature between the bottom and upright portions of the'shell is substantially greater.

' It may be observed that I have produced a hull construction which is of a highly advantageous character and which is capable I of wide application. I believe that I am the first to have produced a combined re inforcing a shell piate which is flanged to impart the n essary rigidity to the hull when secured to the frame members and yet is capable of flaring and bending'to ac commoda-te itself to the shape of the hull at any point therein. By the use of this reinforcing shell plate, in combination with the plain sheet or plate, these plates being employed alternately and secured directly to the transverse frame members, a construction of exceeding simplicity and. hence of extremely low cost is evolved. The metal necessary to be employed to impart the neceswry rigidity is reduced to a minimum, so that the cost of-construction, and the weight of the completed hull, are correspondingly reduced. It may be noted that the flanged plates render it po$ible to eliminate the usual longitudinal stringers. The absence of water pockets upon the inner sides of the shell is alsobelieved to be of substantial importance.

I claim as my invention 1. A boat hull having, in combination, a shell comprising plates having flanges at their opposite longitudinal edges, other plates having plain edges overlapping the flanged edges of the first mentioned plates, and metallic frame members arranged in spaced relation and formed of sheet metal and flanged along one edge, said plates being secured directly to said frame members, and the flanges of the first mentioned plates being cut away to receive the frame members.

2. A boat hull having, in combination with transverse frame members, a shell comprising plates having flanges at both longitudinal edges, and other plates having plain edges overlapping the flanged edges of the first mentioned plates and rigidly secured thereto, said flanges being interrupted at regular intervals to receive the frame members.

3. A- boat hull having transverse frame members spaced apart longitudinally, said members being made of sheet metal provided with a transversely extending stiflening iaaaaaa edges and plates having plain edges over-g lapping the flanged edges of the first mentioned plates and rigidly secured thereto, the flanged plates being formed in relatively short sections having straight edges, and the plain plates being formed with curved edges, said sections being secured together in angular relation so as to produce a curvature for the flanged plates generally conforming to that of the plain lates.

5. A shell construction for boats and the like comprising a plurality of shell plates formed of sheet metal, the alternate shell plates having inturned reinforcing flanges, and a frame to Which the shell is secured including transverse members also formed of sheet metal bent into angular form and having said shell plates secured directly thereto so that their inner faces lie flat against said members.

t'l/A boat hull comprising a frame including transverse frame members and a shell comprising in its lower portion a plurality of sheet metal pletes secured together in overlapping relation and to said transverse frame members, and a Wooden planking secured to the frame members above the sheet metal plates and forming the upper portion of the shell, and means for connecting the uppermost shell plate to the Wooden plankin certain of said metallic plates providing longitudinally extending reinforcement members for the hull.

7. lln a boat hull, the combination With a frame including a transverse frame member and a Wooden planking secured to the frame members in the upper portion. of the vessel, of a metallic bottom construction for the vessel including a plurality of plates secured directly to the frame members, and a pair of connecting plates secured respectively to the metallic shell construction and the Wooden planking and at their adjacent edges having inturned flanges secured together.

, 8. ln a hull, the combination of a metallic shell construction and a Wooden planking, a frame to which said shell and planking are all) secured, and means for securing the uppermost plate of the shell construction to the frame including a metallic bracket secured upon the inner side of said plate below its upper edge, the upper edge of said plate terminating between the planking and the frame.

lln testimony whereof, l have hereunto affixed my signature. 

